This is lake country and a small boater's paradise. Eight connecting lakes will be the center of your adventures at Chain O'Lakes State Park in Noble County. Paddle through the chain, hike the trails, or attend a nature program in the park's 'old schoolhouse' nature center. At nearby Rome City, you can visit the Gene Stratton-Porter Home, State Historic Site.

Nature of the Area

The land making up Chain O Lakes State Park is chiefly fresh waterbog over deep peat deposits. The river bluff areas and gently sloping morainal hills rise to 200 feet, and were deposited by Illinois' last glacier.

Chain O' Lakes has a mixture of oak and hickory hardwood timber. The park also contains cherry, elm, birch, sumac and spruce with rich colors that attract numerous visitors each fall, plus some scattered pine plantings.

Nature lovers will find a rich assortment of wildflowers in the spring, summer and fall.

Grass Lake once was almost entirely covered with American Lotus each summer, and attracted great crowds including tour boats, annually. The lake still contains some areas of lotus.

Some of the wildlife you are likely to encounter within the park are white-tailed deer, rabbits, ground squirrels, chipmunks, mink, opossum, skunks, raccoons, gophers, fox, badgers, beaver, coyotes, and groundhogs. A check-list of the nearly 200 birds that have been identified in the park is available at the park office.

History of the Area

The Chain O Lakes area was inhabited by central Algonquian Tribes when Europeans first arrived in the Mid-1600's. The predominant tribes in the region at that time were the Miami, Mascouten and Potawatomi. These Native American groups led a semi-mobile lifestyle and grew corn, hunted, fished and gathered wild plant foods.

Joliet and Marquette passed through what today is Chain O Lakes State Park in 1673, as they traveled the Fox River during their Illinois explorations. French trappers and traders were the first Europeans to explore the area. The first European settlement was at Fort Hill, near Mundelein, a large mound rising out of the prairie, formerly a lookout point for the Indians.

Chain O Lakes became a state park in 1945, when the State of Illinois made an initial purchase of 840 acres. In the 1930's a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp became the Chain O Lakes Conservation Area. This land was incorporated into the state park in 1957. The farm at the park was purchased by the Department of Conservation in 1969. The property was originally owned by the Stevens family, farmers who received the land under a land grant in 1843.

FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW

Day-UseFishingyes

Hiking Trailyes

Picnickingyes

Picnic Sheltersyes

Swimming Beachyes

Nature Centeryes

Nature Programsyes

BoatingBoat Rentalyes

Boating Limits-1

Launch Ramps, #1

CampingPrimative, #82

Electric Sites, #331

Flush Toiletsyes

Dumpstationyes

Showersyes

Camp Commissaryyes

Camper Cabinsyes

Group Campyes

Youth Group Campyes

WinterCross-Country Skiingyes

Ice Fishingyes

Activitiesyes

Cabins

Enjoy a family cabin with your loved ones in an Indiana State Park this year. The cabins offer privacy and comfort with bedrooms, living areas, kitchens and modern bathroom facilities.

We provide easy access to area attractions and businesses. Only minutes from the Fort Wayne International Airport, Chain O' Lakes State Park and the Wagon Wheel Theatre. Children of all ages will enjoy having fun at nearby Paige's Crossing family entertainment park. Free wireless high-speed Internet.

There is no charge to launch boats at the park, nor is there any horsepower limitations on boats using any of the Chain O' Lakes. Electric trolling motors only are allowed on boats on Turner Lake, a 44 acre lake in the park. A user fee is required for all boats using the Chain O Lakes charged by the Fox Waterway Agency. Stickers are available at the park concession stand/boat launch.

The park features seven picnic areas with tables, water fountains, grills and toilets. Oak Grove, Maple Grove and Oak Point have playground equipment. Oak Pont, Deer path, Oak Grove and Catfish Cove have picnic shelters. Reservations and a $25 fee are required for shelters. Groups of 25 or more must secure advanced written permission for picnics from the Park Office.

Trails

Chain O Lakes has four trail systems. The Nature's Way hiking trail starts at Oak Grove Picnic Area and is 2 ? miles in length. The Pike Marsh North Picnic Area has a trail especially designed for disabled users that is ? mile long. The park also contains an equestrian trail with three loops and a total length of 8 miles. Visitors can bring in their own horses for enjoyment on the trail. A parking lot for horse trailers with access to the equestrian trails is located near the park entrance. A biking/hiking trail, 6 miles in length can be accessed at any picnic area between the concession stand and the park office. In the winter all trails can be used by cross-country skiers with the park office doubling as a warming house on weekends with 3" of snow; hours are 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Area Attractions

At nearby Rome City, you can visit the Gene Stratton-Porter Home, state historic site.

Can something be done about the beaver dam on the inlet off of Long Lake. The dam is preventing water to go into the waterway. You have to drag your boat halfway through the canal.

September 18One of our favorites by Marilyn

We enjoy the boating/kayaking from lake to lake, enjoy birding, and the campfire on the lake. This weekend was our first time kayaking in the dark. It was really great.

August 18Nice Place To Camp by Ryan Newman Fan

Nice, clean campground. Some spots may be a little small for larger units, so make sure to check length of site. Bathhouses need updated. As said by many here, the showers suck. You can not control them and they are all burning hot. The beach is nice, but can get very crowded by locals in the community coming into the park for the day. This state park is one of the few with a camp store. This is by far the best camp store we have seen yet. A great choice for a weekend camping trip.